The Unification Ministry estimates North Korea was short of rice by more than two-hundred-thousand tons as of late July.

In a report submitted by Democratic Labor Party Lawmaker Kim Seondong, the ministry estimated that North Korea is short of food by some 500-thousand tons based of the four-hundred-58 gram minimum daily food intake recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. However, than number has been offset as North Korea appears to have has gotten some two-hundred-37 thousand tons of food from other nations.

The ministry also said North Korea is chronically short of food but added this year’s situation is bearable and not particularly worse than other years.

Moreover, it said the shortage could be solved if North Korean authorities use what they spend on developing weapons of mass destruction or purchasing luxury goods on importing food.